The mammalian tubuli recti: ultrastructural study.

The ultrastructure of the tubuli recti was studied in the testes of sexually mature bulls, boars, rams, goats, rabbits and rats fixed by vascular perfusion. The tubuli recti are lined with a simple epithelium that varies in height, from squamous to tall columnar according to the species and the region. The cells are characterized by extensive lateral and tortuous basal plasma membranes and a luminal border with microvilli. Tight junctions and desmosomes are found in the upper half of the lateral borders. The Golgi apparatus is sizable and associated with it are coated vesicles and many smooth vesicles concentrated towards the luminal border. A distal segment of the tubuli recti is found in bulls only and is characterized by a high epithelium which is thrown into folds giving the lumen a festooned appearance. It is suggested that the epithelial cells of the tubuli recti are involved in fluid exchange and in the removal of unwanted spermatozoa.